Machine for washing and drying



NOV. 17, 1931. LARSEN 1,832,837

MACHINE FOR WASHING AND DRYING Filed Feb. 27. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 17, 1931. A. o. LARSEN 1,832,837

MACHINE FOR WASHING AND DRYING Filed Feb. 27. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 florrr eg.

Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES ALFRED 0. LARSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS MACHINE I03 WASHING AND DRYING Application filed February 27, 1929. Serial No. 848,084.

The present invention has for its object to produce a simple and novel method and ma chine for carrying out the method, by means of which clothes or the like may be rapidly and economically washed, rinsed and dried without requiring them to be touched by the operator, after being placed in the machine, until they are ready to be removed in a clean, dry condition.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and novel machine in which the agitation of the work during washing and rinsing, the expressing of the Water from the work, and the subsequent drying will all be brought about by means of compressed air or gas. V

In carrying out my invention, I place the clothes or other work in a receptacle that may be tightly closed, introducing the washing water either before or after the work had been placed in the receptacle. Air under pressure is then blown up through the receptacle, causing the work and the washing water to be violently agitated. The air is preferably recirculated, so as to reduce to a minimum the loss ofheat from the washing water. After the washing has continued for the proper length of time, the washing water is drained off, rinsing water is supplied, and air is again bloWn up through the receptacle to agitate the work and thus insure that it will be thoroughly rinsed. The rinsing water is then drained off and compressed air is introduced into the top of the receptacle above the work,

squeezing the latter and causing the water to be expressed therefrom and drained off. The pressure in the receptacle is then released and heated air isblown up through the work until the latter is dry. While in the receptacle the work preferably rests on a false bottom of heavy wire mesh or other suitable perforated or open-work material. Furthermore, if desired, means may be provided to press down on top of the work from time to time if portions of the work should happen to project above the water, to insure that there will be no unwashed or unrinsed areas.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Flgure 1 is. a longitudinal vertical section through a machine arranged in accordance with my invention, the section being taken approximately on line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 1s a section taken approximately on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 1s a rear elevation, parts of the driving mechanism being omitted; Fig. 4 is a section taken approximately on line 44 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the vertically movable shoe or plunger.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a closed receptacle provided with a door 2 through which laundry may be introduced and removed. The receptacle has a double bottom comprising an imperforate outer wall 3 and an inner or upper wall 4 that is preferably provided with perforations 5 extending throughout its entire area. .A pipe 6 for supplying hot or cold water, or a mixture of the same, to the receptacle, enters the latter at a point between the two walls of the double bottom. This pipe is provided with a valve 7. There is also a drain pipe 8 communicating with the space between the two walls of the double bottom, the drain pipe being also provided with a valve, indicated at 9. Within the receptacle, and spaced apart from the main bottom, is a foraminous protective wall 10 composed of heavy wire mesh. The walls 4 and 10 may be termed a false bottom which supports the laundry above the actual imperforate bottom 3.

Located at a convenient point is an air compressor 11 provided with a discharge pipe 12 from which extend a plurality of branches 13 that open into the space between the two walls of the double bottom of the receptacle. The inlet pipe 14 of the compressor may draw in outside air, or it may be connected to the interior of the receptacle, at 95 the top of the latter, through a pipe 15. In the arrangement shown, the pi e 14 is connected not only to the pipe 15 ut to. an air heater 16; there being a valve 17 between the pipes 14 and 15, and a valve 18 between the pipe 14 and the heater. The pipe 12 is also connected to the interior of the receptacle, toward the top of the latter, by means of a branch pipe containing a valve 21. There is also a valve 22 in the pipe 12 at a point between its connection with the branch pipe 20 and the branch pipes 13.

It will be seen that when the compressor is running, by properly manipulating the valves in the various pipes leading from the compressor, either outside air or heated air may be blown up into the receptacle from the bottom thereof. The air that IS blown into the receptacle may be re-circulated, or outside air, warmed or otherwise, may be delivered into the top of the receptacle with no means to escape.

The compressor may be of any usual or suitable design. In the drawings, the compressor is of the rotary type comprising a stationary casing 25 in. tie. form of short cylinder. Viithin this cylinder is .a thick disc 26 provided on its fiat faces with suitable packing rings and strips, 27' and 28, adapted to engage with the end walls of the cylindrical casing. The periphery of the disc 15 in the form of a spiral, as indicated at 29; the greatest radius of the spiral being equal to the radius of the interior of the cylinder or casing. The disc is fixed on a shaft 30 extending through and coaxlalwith the easing. The casing is provided with a radial, radially movable block 31 slidable in a housing 32 opening out from the casing, and having a width or thickness equal to that of the disc. A spring 33, behind the block or abutment, holds it constantly in engagement with the periphery of the disc. The discharge pipe and the inlet pipe are connected with the interior of the casing on opposite sides of and near the block or abutment 31. As suming that the shaft 30 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, and that air is being permitted to enter the pipe 14: it will be seen that as the shoulder 3 1 connecting the high and low points of this spiral on the disc travels away from the shoe or abutment, a partial vacuum will be created and air will be drawn into the gradually increasing space between said shoulder and the abutment. This air will be at atmospheric pressure until the disc has made a complete revolution and the abutment has again dropped down behind the shoulder. Then, as the disc continues to revolve, the effective space in which the air drawn in during the preceding revolution is housed, constantly decreases in size, causing a pressure to be built up and the air to be forced out through the discharge pipe. During the second revolution, another charge of air is being drawn in while the first charge is being driven out.

If desired, there may be a plurality of inlets distributed circumferentlally of the casing or housing. In the arrangement shown, there are six additional inlets, 35, each provided with a valve 36. By this means the amount of air discharged by the compressor during each revolution ma be varied, and it may also be varied by adjusting the valves 17 and 18.

In the arrangement shown, the driving shaft 30 extends across the top of the receptacle for the work and is driven from an electric motor by any suitable means as. for example, a belt 41. In addition to driving the compressor, the shaft 30 also reciprocates a vertically movable plunger or shoe 42 in the form of a horizontal open work or foraminous plate. The plunger or shoe is carried on the lower ends of rods 43 extending up through the top of the receptacle for the work and joined at their upper ends by a cross piece 44. The cross piece is hung from the lower end of a connecting rod 45 whose upper end is pivotally fastened to a crank disc 4-6 on a horizontal shaft 17. The shaft -17 has thereon a large pulley 49. A belt passes around the pulley 49 and over a small pulley 51 on the shaft 30. Consequently. when the shaft 30 revolves, the plunger or shoe is moved up and down in the washing receptacle. The parts are so proporiioned that when the plunger or shoe is in its raised position. as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will not interfere with the placing of the work in the receptacle. or its removal therefrom. The downward movement of the shoe to its lowermost position. indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. is suflicient to cause the laundry to be pressed down after it has been lifted as will hereinafter he explained.

The apparatus heretofore described may be used in the following manner: A quantity of laundry having been placed in the receptacle and the proper amount of hot water introduced through the supply pipe 6, the door to the receptacle is closed. the valves 18 and 21 are closed and the valves 17 and are opened. The motor is then started. causing the compressor to operate and force air through the pipe 12 and the pipes 13 into the bottom of the receptacle. through the wall 4 and screen 10 and travels up through the water, indicated at A in Figs. 1 and 2, and through the laundry which is not shown. The air will not pass freely through the laundry but will lift it more or less and be trapped to some extent underneath the same. The rising laundry meets the descending plunger which presses it back and serves to drive water and the trapped air up through the laundry. The air admitted to the compressor is drawn from the top of the receptacle through the pipe 15. In other words, the air in. the receptacle is re-circulatcd, so that there is no dissipation of heat as would be the case if a continuous stream of The air rises 7 rool fresh air were blown up through the hot water. \Vhen the laundry has been suiticiently washed. the. water is drained off through the drain pipe 5. afterwhich the valve in thedrain pipe is again closed. Rinsing water is then supplied through the pipe (5 and the process of blowing air up through the receptacle. while. the plunger is moving up and down. is repeated. The rins ing water is then drained off and the valve in the drain pipe is left open. The valves 17 and 2:2 are then closed and the valves 18 and ill opened. Air will now be drawn from an outside souree'and be pumped into the top of the receptacle above the mass of wet laundry covering the wire screen. The discharge pipe 1:! is preferably provided with a check valve 53. shown in Fig. 4. so that while pressure is being built up in the receptacle :he air will be prevented from flowing back into the compressor. The compressed air will not pass down through the wet laundry that is packed on the wire screen. but will press it. tightly against the latter and express the water therefrom. If the laundry lay directlv in contact with the perforated bottom wall 4. in which the combined areas of the perforations are only a small fraction of the area of the wall itself, it would serve as .1 stopper to close the perfo'ations and prevent. the water from draining off. However, by employing a wire screen. the perforations in the 'all 5 will always remain open. or enough of them will remain open even though iortions of the wire screen should be pressed down into contact with the wall -l. to permit the water to run oli' freely. A suitable pressure gauge 54: may be provided to indicate to the operator what the pressure in receptacle Es. so that he will not build up too great a pressure. After the water has been forced out of the laundry, the valves in the water l![)])l pipe and the drain pipe are closed, as are the valves 17 and :21. whereas the valves 18 and 22 are opened. The heat having been turned on in the heat interchanger 16, hot air will be drawn into the compressor and delivered into the bottom of the receptacle, to be blown up through the damp laundry. The rising air will tumble the laundry about more or less. so that the heated air will reach all parts thereof. bringing about a quick drying. The drying air, carrying the moisture taken up from the work is discharged through an outlet pipe 55 at the top of the receptacle: this pipe being provided with a valve 56 that is closed during the washing, rinsing. and wringing of the laundry, but is .itiou. The valve 56 is also opened after the water has been pressed out of the laundry. to relieve the pressure in the receptacle.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a simple and novel apparatus in which the washing, rinsing and drying of laundry or the like is effected quickly and economically. without, requiring the work to be removed from one place to another or even to be touched by the operator from the time it is placed in the receptacle in a soiled condition to the time when it is ready to be removed. elean and dry. It will also be seen that the time required to perform the various operations does not depend on the quan tity of laundry in the receptacle. large. quantities being washed, rinsed and dried in about the same time as comparatively small quantities.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single PIGfQl'l't-ll form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim 2'- 1. A washing and drying machine. compr sing a receptacle for clothes and washing and rinsing waters having a perforated false bottom and adapted to be closed tightly enough to permit pressure to be builtup therein. means for forcing air up through either the said false bottom or into the top of the receptacle. means to drain the water from the receptacle, and means by which the air entering from below may be heated.

2. In a machine of the character described. a receptacle having a false bottom perfo rated through its entire area, a closure for the receptacle adapted to close the latter tightly enough to permit pressure to be built up therein, a compressor, valved conduits connecting the discharge side of the compressor to the top and bottom of the receptacle whereby the compressor may discharge into either the top or the bottom of the recentacle. means for supplying the compressor with either heated or unheated air, and means for delivering hot and cold water into and removing it from the receptacle.

3. In a machine of the character described. a. receptacle adapted to contain the work and water to clean the same, a perforated shoe of approximately the same length and width as the interior of the receptacle positioned in the top of the latter, means for moving the shoe up and down between its elevated position and a plane somewhat below the liquid level in the receptacle and far above the bottom of the receptacle, and means for continuously blowing compressed air into h opened more or less during the drying oper- 8 bottom of the receptacle Whlle Qmd Shoe is being moved up and down.

4. In a washing machine, a receptacle to contain water and the work and adapted to be tightly closed, a wall extending entirely across the lower portion of the receptacle and providing a chamber between the same and the effective bottom of the receptacle,

Itllr said wall being perforated throughout its length and breadth, a protecting wire mesh screen in the receptacle above and spaced apart from said perforated wall, means for introducing air under strong pressure into the upper art of the receptacle or into the said charm er, and means connected with said chamber to drain the water from the receptacle.

5. In a machineof the character described, a receptacle adapted to contain laundry and water to clean the same, means for continuously blowing compressed air into the vbottom of the receptacle at points distributed throughout the length and breadth of said bottom, and means alternately to press the entire body of laundry down a short distance below the liquid level in the receptacle and again release the same so as to permit the incoming air to force it upward.

6. In a washing machine, a receptacle to contain water and the work andadapted to be tightly closed, a thick wall extending entirely across the lower portion of the receptacle and providing a chamberbetween the same and the effective bottom of the receptacle, said wall being provided with numerous perforations distributed throughout the length and breadth thereof, a protective wire screen positioned above and spaced apart from said perforated wall, a drain deviceconnected to said chamber, and means for introducing compressed air into the top of said receptacle, or into said chamber.

7. In a washing machine, a receptacle adapted to containthe work and fluids to clean the same, a stationary transverse wall extending entirely across the receptacle a short distance from the bottom to provide a chamber between said wall and'the bottom wall of the receptacle, said wall being provided with small perforations distributed throughout the length and breadth thereof, a stationary protective screen spaced a short distance above said perforated wall, said chamber being provided with drain, a perfora ed shoe of approximately the same length and width as the interior of the receptacle, an air compressor, a plurality of pipes connecting the discharge side of the compressor to said chamber at distributed points thereon, and means to operate the compressor and simultaneously move the shoe up and down between a position in the top of the receptacle and a position in which it lies somewhat below the liquid level in the receptacle.

8. In a washing machine, a receptacle adapted to contain the work and fluids to clean the same, means tightly to close the receptacle, a stationary transverse wall extending entirely across the receptacle a. short distance from the bottom to provide a chamber between said wall and the bottom wall of the receptacle, said wall being provided with small perforations distributed throughout the length and breadth thereof, a stationary protective screen spaced 9. short distance above said perforated wall, said chamber being provided with a drain, a perforated shoe of approximatel the same length and width as the interior 0 the receptacle, and air compressor, a plurality of pipes connecting the discharge side of the compressor to said chamber at distributed points thereon, a pipe connecting the discharge side f the compressor to the top of the receptagle, valves controlling the admission of air to the said pi es, and means to operate the compressor an simultaneously move the shoe u and down between a position in the to of t e receptacle and a position in which it ies somewhat below the liquid level in the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification. ALFRED O. LARSEN. 

